MLB Game Recaps: Baltimore Orioles Walk-Off Again

The punching bag of the American League East has proven they can punch back.  It’s been years since anyone has

seen the Orioles this competitive this late in a season, and for the past two days, they’ve shown why; the team doesn’t quit.

Saturday it was Adam Jones‘ walk-off home run in extra innings that sent the Orioles bouncing home winners.  Yesterday, Matt Wieters did the job.  With the game knotted at 4, Matt Wieters doubled home the game winning run to give the Orioles the game and the series.

The Orioles found themselves down 4-1 early against the winless Cliff Lee.  However, they fought their way back.  Steve Tolleson hit a three-run shot in the fourth to tie the game at four.  It would stay there until the tenth when Adam Jones reached safely on an error.  The Orioles and Matt Wieters would make the Phillies pay for that error.  Weiters took the offering from Joe Savery and doubled home Jones.

Cliff Lee remains winless on the season despite decent peripheral numbers.  Lee is now 0-3 with a 2.92 ERA.  He is striking out 9.2 batters every nine innings and walking just 1.5.  He’s pitching well, but as we know, wins and losses are controlled very little by the pitcher.  Lee has started nine games this season and has his lowest WHIP since 2010 at 1.005.

With the series loss, the Phillies have now fallen to 29-33 while the Orioles improved to 34-26.  They are 16-14 at home.

National League

San Diego – 5

Milwaukee – 6

The Padres were looking for their second series victory of the year against Milwaukee, but they couldn’t pull it off.  Ryan Braun homered and drove in three as the Brewers took two of three from the Padres at home.

Interleague

New York (N) – 4

New York (A) – 5

Russel Martin hit a walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth to help the Yankees complete the sweep of the Mets in the Subway Series.  The Mets had just scored in the top of the ninth to tie the game, but Martin made sure the Yankees would head home winners with his solo blast.

Tampa Bay – 4

Miami – 2

In the battle for Florida, the Rays reign supreme.  David Price tossed 6 1/3 innings of four-hit ball as the Rays swept the Marlins.  Matt Joyce and Elliot Johnson both homered in the game, and the Rays moved to ten games over .500.

Washington – 4

Boston – 3

The Montreal Expos/Washington Nationals had never won at Fenway Park.  Now, they’ve won three straight.  Bryce Harper drew a walk and scored the winning run in the ninth as the Nationals completed the sweep of the sinking Red Sox.

Toronto – 12

Atlanta – 4

The Braves scored the first four runs of the game, but the Blue Jays scored plenty late.  Toronto scored all 12 runs from the fifth inning on, including six in the fifth.  Brett Lawrie and Colby Rasmus both homered for the Blue Jays, and the Toronto bullpen tossed a shutout over the final five innings of the game.

Houston – 11

Chicago (A) – 9

The Astros hit four home runs and they needed them all as they stayed just ahead of the White Sox in a slug-fest.  J.D. Martinez, Justin Maxwell, Brett Wallace, and Jose Altuve all went yard for Houston.  The Sox, who saw their AL Central lead shrink to a half game lost two of three to the Astros.

Kansas City – 2

Pittsburgh – 3

Despite a late charge, the Royals fell the the Pirates after Pittsburgh scored three times early.  The Pirates got all of their runs in the first three innings, and their pitching held the Royals off.  Kansas City scored once in the seventh and once in the eighth, but it would not be enough.

Chicago (N) – 8

Minnesota – 2

Ryan Dempster is pitching like an ace this season.  He pitched eight innings of shut-out ball while giving up just four hits.  He also struck out six and saw his ERA drop to a sparkling 2.31.  The struggling Twins scored two in the ninth, but never threatened in this game.

Cleveland – 4

St. Louis – 1

Jason Kipnis broke the game wide open with one swing of his bat.  What was a 1-1 tie in the ninth became a three run lead for the Indians after Kipnis’ three-run blast.  Ubaldo Jimenez started for the Indians and looked like the Ubaldo of old.  He went seven innings, allowed just one run, and struck out seven in the Indians win.

Los Angeles (N) – 8

Seattle – 2

The Mariners may wish they saved some of that pitching magic from Friday for the rest of this series.  After being no-hit on Friday, the Dodgers collected 14 hits Saturday and 11 more hits yesterday.  The win was capped by an Andre Ethier grand slam in the second.

Los Angeles (A) – 10

Colorado – 8

Mike Trout and Mark Trumbo both had two hits, and Trumbo had two home runs as the Angels blasted their way to victory.  Ervin Santana was staked to an early four run lead, then a five run lead, but he just kept bleeding runs.  Despite the win, Santana gave up seven runs in 5 2/3 innings.

Texas – 5

San Francisco – 0

Alexi Ogando had to leave the game after three innings due to a strained groin, but the Rangers bullpen held the Giants without a run for the rest of the game.  Josh Hamilton and Ian Kinsler drove in two runs apiece as the Rangers took two out of three.

Oakland – 3

Arizona – 4

For the first time since early May, the Diamondbacks are back to .500.  After completing the sweep of the A’s, the Diamondbacks find themselves 8.5 games back, but they are 8-2 in their last ten.  Joe Saunders allowed just two runs in six innings of work, and J.J. Putz picked up the save.

Detroit – 7

Cincinnati – 6

Aroldis Chapman took his second loss of the year after giving up two runs in one innings of work.  The Tigers scored four times in the eighth to edge past the Reds.  The Reds threatened in the eighth, but they couldn’t push across the tying run.  The Reds finished 2 for 8 with runners in scoring position.  The Tigers finished 4 for 10.